Comedic straight play.. suggestions PLEASE!

[Kimsus123]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 7:14pm

I am directing a one-act show in a drama festival done in my town every year.. I REALLY want to do a greattt comedy but I have NO idea what to do. I was thinking of doing something from "All in the Timing" by David Ives, but I'm not sure.. I kind of want slap stick esque.. any suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated!!

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 8:14pm

Does it HAVE to be a one-act? If not, I strongly suggest SCAPIN... make sure it's the adaptation by Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell. It is absolutely hilarious. It originally starred Bill Irwin, Kristin Chenoweth, and Mary Bond Davis (of HAIRSPRAY), among others. It's great for adults and even high schools! Last year, my school did it (and I played Scapin), and in January, a professional theater company here in Connecticut is doing it.

[seymour krelborn]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 8:40pm

Most Ives' one acts are very funny. Also Check out Christopher Durang he writes more slapstick-esque. One in particular by him is "The Actor's Nightmare", it's absolutely brilliant and there are so many slapstick oppourtunities in it.It's a very fun and hilarious piece, hope this helps.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 8:47pm

I'd check out The Misanthrope by Moliere.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 9:22pm

For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls - Durang's spoof of The Glass Menagerie

Updated On: 12/13/04 at 09:22 PM

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 9:51pm

If you can do something that's not a one-act, do The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. It's not really a musical comedy (you'll get it if you read a summary), and it's not a literary landmark, but it's a HILARIOUS show if done right. It's very campy and has a lot of opportunity for slapstick. It's great!

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 10:06pm

That's funny, Matt and MyName! Last May I played Marjorie in MCM and last June I was Amanda in Southern Belle. Amanda was a character actress's dream - probably the best script Ive ever worked wtih. Two FABULOUS shows!

[Mr. TN]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 10:33pm

I would suggest "Sure Thing" by Ives, keeping with the Ives theme.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 10:32pm

'Inspecting Carol' is always fun to do.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 10:50pm

Marjorie is HILARIOUS! My school just did it and I enjoyed it immensely.

[Kimsus123]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 11:22pm

thanks sooo much for all the suggestions!!! unfortunatly is DOES have to be a one-act but ill take a look at these and see what i think.. oh one other thing.. i need a pretty small cast show we have hardly ANY talented actors grr haha

[Kimsus123]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 11:22pm

thanks sooo much for all the suggestions!!! unfortunatly is DOES have to be a one-act but ill take a look at these and see what i think.. oh one other thing.. i need a pretty small cast show we have hardly ANY talented actors grr haha

[pab]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 11:33pm

Check out "Death Defying Acts". They are three one-act plays that were performed together, Off-Broadway, a few years back. David Mamet, Elaine May, and Woody Allen each wrote one.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 3:01am

Can I suggest "My Cup Runneth Over" by Robert Patrick?

It only has two women in it who are room mates. One is a hard working writer who isn't making it in her career. Her room mate is a slacker muscian who makes an "over night" sucess.

It's a great piece of work.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 3:27am

I've definitely got to go with For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 5:30am

I'll go w/ PAB's Death-defying acts-just do Mamet's act.
It requires 2 actors-Satan's Minion(SM) & Recently-Deceased Lawyer(RDL) trying to negotiate his way out of hell.
Sample lines:
SM "you see,you have two things keeping you from heaven".
RDL "Yes?"
SM "First,you became a lawyer..."
RDL "and then?"
SM "And then you neglected to live forever..."

what's not to love? Updated On: 12/14/04 at 05:30 AM

[fiesta1]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 8:36am

Take a look at Elaine May's "Adaptation" -- a comedic one-act for four actors (usually 3m, 1f).

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 9:10am

about a million years ago, I did a community theatre production of a play called Here Lies Jeremy Troy...it was quite funny - very slapstick in some parts, and lots of crazy characters in funny mix ups - but it's not a one-act, unfortunately.

[chaschap]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 9:26am

STRUETH - a coarse acting piece in The Art of Coarse Acting by Michael Green

[B-Way4Life]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 11:24am

I would suggest Ives' SOAP OPERA. It's very funny. It's a spoof on soap operas. My drama club is doing it this year for competition. I'm in it. I would also suggest BLACK COMEDY. I forgot who wrote it, though.

[AbsolutKnight]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 12:02pm

I did For Whome The Southern Bell Tolls in college and thought it was amazing.

We also did one called "Dark Comedy" (I think that was the name) where all the lighting was reversed. That was just a very fun show to put on. :)

[diva007]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 1:50pm

"Poof" 2 women one act. It is about a woman who magically turns her husband into dust and how her and her best friend plan to cover it up. HI-LAR-I-OUS!!!!

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 2:37pm

The Third Act of Neil Simon's PLAZA SUITE is rather brilliant and you might also be interested in the last act of his play, CALIFORNIA SUITE.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 2:43pm

The Actor's Nightmare by Christopher Durang

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 3:59pm

Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer is indeed the play where the first few minutes are played on a dark stage and then a fuse blows and the lights go "out" in the play, but come up bright on stage. The characters remain in the "dark" but the audience can see what is happening.

This is a one-joke farce but if it is played well, it is a winner.